DriversRecommendedOutdated drivers can make a good PC feel brokenScan driver issues before chasing fixes manually.Scan NowHalloween DealsAmazon USHalloween week deals: useful picks before month-endAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsSlow PC?RecommendedPC slow today? Run a repair scan before it gets worseResolve common Windows issues and optimize system performance.Scan Now×
FREEDOM251

Freedom251 › Blog › Gaming Consoles

Xbox Series X vs. Series S for Gears of War: Which Should You Choose?

By Freedom251 Team · · 4 min read

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Either Xbox Series X or Series S can play Gears of War: Reloaded with the announced 60 FPS Campaign mode and multiplayer at up to 120 FPS. The better fit depends mainly on your display and whether you want to use game discs: Series X targets native 4K and has a UHD Blu-ray drive, while Series S is disc-free, designed for 1440p and can upscale to 4K. Actual game output varies by title, so the published specifications for one Gears game should not be applied to the whole series.

What’s different between Series X and Series S for Gears?

What matters Xbox Series X Xbox Series S
Console display target Xbox describes Series X as displaying games in native 4K. Actual output depends on the game and display. Xbox console comparison Xbox describes Series S as designed for 1440p, with the ability to upscale to 4K. Actual output depends on the game and display. Xbox console comparison
Game discs Includes a UHD Blu-ray disc player. Xbox console comparison Disc-free; Series S uses digital games only. Xbox console comparison Xbox backward compatibility
Gears of War: Reloaded 60 FPS Campaign and multiplayer up to 120 FPS, according to Xbox and The Coalition. Xbox Wire announcement The Coalition said these modes are available on Series S as well as Series X. Official Xbox podcast
Gears 5 Xbox lists 4K HDR Ultra visuals, along with 120 FPS in Versus and other Series X|S optimizations. Xbox Store listing Xbox lists Series X|S optimization, including 120 FPS in Versus, but does not state a matching Series S resolution figure. Xbox Store listing

Which console makes more sense for your setup?

Choose Series X for native 4K or a disc library

Series X is the straightforward choice if you want a console described by Xbox as displaying games in native 4K, or if you own physical games and want a disc drive. That distinction also matters for backward-compatible disc games: Series S is digital-only. The console’s 4K description is not a promise that every Gears title renders at 4K; check the details for the specific game.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Choose Series S for digital-only play and a 1440p target

Series S fits a player who buys or accesses games digitally and is comfortable with Xbox’s stated 1440p design target and 4K upscaling. It supports the announced Reloaded Campaign and multiplayer modes, including multiplayer up to 120 FPS; it is not excluded from those modes because of its lower display target.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

What performance has Xbox announced for each Gears game?

Gears of War: Reloaded

Xbox Wire’s May 5, 2025 announcement lists 4K, 60 FPS in Campaign, and multiplayer at up to 120 FPS for Gears of War: Reloaded, which launched August 26, 2025. The Xbox Store describes it as natively optimized for Series X|S. In an official Xbox podcast, Coalition staff specifically said the 60 FPS and up-to-120-FPS modes are available on Series S as well as Series X. These are published game claims, not independent measurements. A 120 Hz-capable display is needed to experience output at 120 FPS; advanced display features can have additional compatibility requirements. Xbox Wire announcement Xbox Store listing Official Xbox podcast

#1 Best Overall
Xbox Series X | Disc Gaming Console | 1TB SSD | Includes Wireless Controller, 4K Gaming, 120FPS, Carbon Black
  • FASTEST, MOST POWERFUL XBOX — Experience next-generation performance with 12 teraflops of processing power, delivering smoother gameplay, richer worlds, and faster responsiveness than any previous XBOX.
  • TRUE 4K GAMING UP TO 120 FPS — Enjoy breathtaking visuals with true 4K resolution, HDR, and frame rates up to 120 FPS, plus hardware-accelerated ray tracing for a heightened level of realism.
  • 1TB CUSTOM SSD AND XBOX VELOCITY ARCHITECTURE — Reduce load times dramatically with the custom 1TB NVMe SSD and XBOX Velocity Architecture, enabling lightning-fast performance and seamless world streaming.
  • QUICK RESUME — Seamlessly switch between multiple games and resume exactly where you left off. No more waiting through title screens and loading bars.
  • FOUR GENERATIONS OF GAMES — Play thousands of games from XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX 360, and Original XBOX, with many titles enhanced for better visuals and performance on XBOX Series X.

Coalition staff also said Dolby Vision is available on both consoles for the discussed implementation. That statement should not be read as a guarantee that every display supports it or that all Gears games offer the same HDR behavior. Official Xbox podcast

Gears 5

Xbox’s Store listing says Gears 5 is optimized for Series X|S, with reduced load times, Instant Resume, variable refresh rates, and 120 FPS in Versus. It specifies 4K HDR Ultra visuals on Series X, but does not provide a corresponding Series S resolution figure. The 120 FPS listing applies to Versus, not necessarily every campaign scene. Xbox Store listing

Rank #2
Xbox Series X 1TB Gaming Console Console + 1 Wireless Controller - Backward Compatible with Thousands of Games, Fine-Tuned Performance, True 4K Gaming, Up to 120 FPS - HDMI_Cable
  • What's in the box: Xbox Series X console, 1 Xbox Wireless Controller - Carbon Black, Ultra High Speed HDMI cable, Power cord.
  • Equipped with AMD's Zen 2 and RDNA 2 architectures, DirectX ray tracing delivers true-to-life lighting, shadows and accurate reflections to create dynamic, living worlds.
  • Memory: 16GB GDDR6 w/320 bit-wide bus; Memory Bandwidth: 10 GB @ 560 GB/s, 6 GB @ 336 GB/s; Internal Storage: 1TB Custom NVME SSD
  • Gaming Resolution: True 4K; Performance Target: Up to 120 FPS; High Dynamic Range: Up to 8K HDR; Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-Ray; HDMI Features: Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync.
  • Bundled with HDMI_Cable

Other games in the series

Xbox says most Xbox One games are playable on Series X|S, while backward-compatible enhancements vary by title. That does not establish that every older Gears game has the same resolution, frame rate, or enhancement on both consoles. Check the individual game’s listing for its supported features. Xbox backward compatibility

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

How can you access Gears of War: Reloaded?

Xbox’s May 2025 announcement gave a launch suggested retail price of $39.99 and said the game would be available at launch with Game Pass Ultimate or PC Game Pass. Those are launch-era details, not confirmation of the current price or catalog availability. Check the current Xbox Store listing and subscription terms in your region before choosing a purchase or subscription route. Xbox Wire announcement

Rank #3
Xbox Series S | Digital Gaming Console | 512GB SSD | Includes Wireless Controller, 1440P Gaming, 120FPS, Robot White
  • BEST VALUE IN GAMING — Experience next-gen speed and performance in the smallest XBOX ever. The XBOX Series S delivers powerful all-digital gameplay in a sleek, compact design.
  • UP TO 120 FPS GAMEPLAY — Enjoy smooth, responsive gaming with frame rates up to 120 FPS, powered by XBOX Velocity Architecture, a custom NVMe SSD, and DirectX Raytracing for a heightened level of realism.
  • 512GB CUSTOM SSD AND XBOX VELOCITY ARCHITECTURE — Reduce load times dramatically with the custom 512GB NVMe SSD and XBOX Velocity Architecture, enabling lightning-fast performance and seamless world streaming.
  • QUICK RESUME — Seamlessly switch between multiple games and resume exactly where you left off. No more waiting through title screens and loading bars.
  • FOUR GENERATIONS OF DIGITAL GAMES — Play thousands of digital games from XBOX Series X|S, XBOX One, XBOX 360, and Original XBOX with backward compatibility. Many titles are enhanced for better visuals and performance. Smart Delivery ensures you always get the best version for your console.

If you own physical games or prefer disc purchases, Series X is the relevant option because Series S has no disc drive. If you plan to use digital purchases or subscription access, either console can play Reloaded; confirm that the game is currently included in the service you intend to use.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

What the published claims do—and don’t—establish

The available official descriptions clarify display targets, disc support, and selected game modes. They do not provide an independent, controlled Series X-versus-Series S comparison of resolution, frame pacing, or image quality across the Gears games. For Reloaded, the announced modes are shared by both consoles; for other titles, use the specific game’s stated features rather than assuming identical output.

Rank #4
Xbox Series S 512GB SSD All-Digital Gaming Console (disc Free) with 1 Wireless Controller - 10GB GDDR6 Memory, 8X Cores Custom Zen 2 CPU HDMI_Cable
  • What's in the box: Xbox Series S 512GB console, 1 Wireless Controller, High Speed HDMI cable.
  • CPU: 8X Cores @ 3.6 GHz (3.4 GHz w/SMT) Custom Zen 2 CPU; GPU: 4 TFLOPS, 20 CUs @1.565 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU; SOC Die Size: 197.05 mm2.
  • Memory: 10GB GDDR6 128 bit-wide bus; Memory Bandwidth: 8GB @ 224 GB/s, 2GB @ 56 GB/s.; Internal Storage: 512GB Custom NVME SSD
  • Gaming Resolution: 1440p; Performance Target: Up to 120 FPS; HDMI Features: Auto Low Latency Mode, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate, AMD FreeSync.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Gaming ConsolesGears 5Gears of WarGears of War ReloadedXbox Series SXbox Series X

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.